In Brief: Brothers face weapons trial

TWO brothers who were allegedly found with a stash of weapons, including several samurai swords and a smoke bomb, following a car chase in west Dublin are facing trial.

The pair appeared before Blanchardstown District Court charged with unlawful possession of weapons.

It is also alleged that Michael Ward (23), of Tara Court Park in Navan, Co Meath and Tom Ward (31), of Carraig Geal, Loughrea, Co Galway, were wearing gloves and had balaclavas when gardai stopped their UK-registered vehicle.

The men are facing trial in the Circuit Court. The case was adjourned for two weeks for the service of the book of evidence.

New Delhi hit by earthquake

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook the Indian capital today as it hit the state of Haryana just outside New Delhi.

The quake at 1.11pm local time (7.41am GMT) caused more than 10 seconds of tremors in and around the city.

People ran into the streets after feeling the tremors but there were no immediate reports of damage to buildings or injury to the population of 16.7m.

Man accused of sex assault

A DUBLIN man accused of falsely imprisoning a woman and sexually assaulting her in a violent attack at his home is facing trial.

The defendant (27), of west Dublin, appeared before Blanchardstown District Court charged with false imprisonment and aggravated sexual assault on January 23, 2011.

He is facing trial in the Circuit Court. Judge Anthony Halpin adjourned the matter for two weeks to March 16.

25 police killed in al-Qa'ida hit

Twenty-five police officers were killed when a gang of gunmen wearing military-style uniforms carried out an early-morning shooting spree in western Iraq.

The killings began with the gang kidnapping two police commanders from their homes in the western Iraqi city of Haditha at around 2am today.

It ended with the gang raising the flag of al-Qa'ida at a police checkpoint in the latest bloody strike against Iraq's security forces.